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Cleveland Browns: Top 5 games of Eric Metcalf’s career

By Casey Kinnamon

CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 6: Eric Metcalf #21 of the Cleveland Browns carries the ball against the Buffalo Bills during the AFC Divisional Playoff Game on January 6, 1990 at Cleveland Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. Metcalf played for the Browns from 1989-94. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 6: Eric Metcalf #21 of the Cleveland Browns carries the ball against the Buffalo Bills during the AFC Divisional Playoff Game on January 6, 1990 at Cleveland Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. Metcalf played for the Browns from 1989-94. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – JANUARY 6: Eric Metcalf #21 of the Cleveland Browns carries the ball against the Buffalo Bills during the AFC Divisional Playoff Game on January 6, 1990 at Cleveland Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. Metcalf played for the Browns from 1989-94. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – JANUARY 6: Eric Metcalf #21 of the Cleveland Browns carries the ball against the Buffalo Bills during the AFC Divisional Playoff Game on January 6, 1990 at Cleveland Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. Metcalf played for the Browns from 1989-94. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

5. Divisional Playoffs vs Buffalo Bills — Jan. 6, 1990

Eric Metcalf’s rookie season ended with a trip to the playoffs, something Browns’ fans were accustomed to during that time period. The Browns were winners of the Central division. Sadly, it was the last time the Browns were Central division champions.

In the divisional round of the playoffs, Cleveland drew the pre-surging Buffalo Bills. After this season, the Bills would go on to play in four straight super bowls. Luckily for Cleveland, this would be a home game, an advantage that the Browns would desperately need.

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Metcalf’s offensive workload would be low for this game, as he would see only five touches on the offensive side of the ball. This was consistent with the final two games of the regular season, as the Browns recently had workhorse running back Kevin Mack return from a 12-game hiatus. Metcalf was still able to find a way to be invaluable to the Browns.

In the third quarter of the game, the Bills had just ceased the momentum and pulled to within three points thanks to a Jim Kelly touchdown pass to Thurman Thomas.

With the score sitting at 24-21, Cleveland was in danger of letting what at one point was a 10-point lead slip away. The Bills were an extremely potent offense, and the Browns needed to answer if they had any hope of advancing.

Cleveland didn’t have to wait long. Metcalf returned the following kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown. The rookie looked like he was shot out of a cannon, taking the kickoff up the middle of the field and then braking to the right sideline after he gashed through the first wave of would-be tacklers. Not a single Buffalo Bill had a chance in the world at bringing Metcalf down.

While Metcalf had better overall games for Cleveland, sometimes timing is everything and the timing of this game-breaking play lands at number five on this list.

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